Are you a wind enthusiast looking for a family-friendly destination? The Canary Islands offer ideal conditions year-round. We’ve explored Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Tenerife, and Tenerife stands out as our top pick family holiday.
Fuerteventura vs. Tenerife for Family Wind Holidays
Every time we visit the Canary Islands, we’re surprised by the diversity each island offers. We were unlucky with the wind in Lanzarote a few years ago, so we’ll compare Fuerteventura and Tenerife.
Fuerteventura is less heavily exploited by tourism than Tenerife, especially in the north, while the south is more touristy. We generally prefer a more local atmosphere and a less commercial, wilder experience in our travels. Tenerife has both highly touristy areas and some very wild and local places that we love.
Regarding wind, both based on forecasts and our own experience, Tenerife generally has more consistent winds compared to Fuerteventura.
In terms of spots, Tenerife offers options where both beginners and advanced riders can enjoy the same location, which is less common in Fuerteventura. Personally, I prefer Tenerife’s spots, which are often sandy and spacious. If you’re an advanced rider, you might instead fall in love with Puerto Lajas in Fuerteventura, a unique wave spot that’s hard to find anywhere else in the world.
Where to Stay for a Wingfoiling Family Holiday in Tenerife
Considering that the best wingfoiling spots in Tenerife are concentrated around El Médano, we strongly recommend staying in that area. We stayed in Las Maretas, a local village, 15 minutes far from El Mèdano. We loved its non-touristy atmosphere.
If you prefer to be closer to restaurants and services, El Médano town offers a more local vibe with additional amenities. For a resort-style holiday with all the comforts and services for tourists, Los Cristianos is the place to go. This might be a good option if you want to go wingfoiling alone and leave the rest of your family on less windy beaches. However, our motto is to enjoy sports together, so we definitely recommend the El Médano area.
If you’re considering the northern part of Tenerife due to lower prices, remember that all the best spots are in the south, and the weather is generally sunnier and warmer in the south.
The Top Wingfoiling Spot in Tenerife:
Puerto de Granadilla
Puerto de Granadilla will always hold a special place in my heart as it’s where I learned to fly with a foil. The conditions here are perfect, with consistently flat water and strong winds. It’s sheltered, so you feel safe. The long beach is great for practicing, and the water is deep for wingfoiling.
If you’re visiting with your family, we strongly suggest going in the morning when the tide is low. There’s a small sandy beach at the end of the beach where your kids can play in a sheltered spot. Otherwise, the beach’s large stones and steep water aren’t ideal for playing. I’ve never experienced such flat water, even with strong winds, making this spot a paradise for freestylers.
There’s ample parking right at the beach, but be cautious of the forest road leading there. You can enter directly from the right side of the entrance to the industrial site.
El Médano
El Médano is the iconic spot in Tenerife for all wind sports, including kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wingfoiling.
The beach is divided into sectors. The southernmost part is reserved for kitesurfing due to the shallow water.The perfect spot for wingfoiling is right in front of the Duotone center. You can check the conditions beforehand using their webcam. There’s a delimited area for wingfoiling and windsurfing, separated from the swimming area and the kiteboarding area, making it convenient to ride safely.
The water doesn’t drop off steeply immediately, so you’ll need to hold your foil for a while before starting to ride, which can be challenging in wavy conditions. However, the backdrop is sandy, so you won’t have to worry about stones if you can’t keep your foil steady or if you go out too late.
For experienced riders, the Muelle area, right in front of the harbour, offers the most waves. The Cabezo area, with its protruding stones, is unsuitable for foilers but suitable for windsurfing or surfing.
The beauty of this spot is astonishing, with its white sand, the wilderness of the southernmost part of the beach, and the surf vibes that dominate there.
For kids, the long, sandy beach is comfortable even with strong winds, as it doesn’t kick up sand and offers some protection from the wind due to the rocks on the beach.
Managing Family and Winds in a Tenerife Family Holiday
Another significant advantage of Tenerife over Fuerteventura is that the winds generally blow stronger in the afternoon. This allows you to enjoy family activities in the morning and wind sports in the afternoon.
We’ve included sheltered areas for each spot. However, if your children are accustomed to windy conditions from a young age, they might not be bothered by the wind (or at least that’s what we like to think). If you’re looking for beaches without wind on very windy days, head to the Adeje Coast or Los Americanos area.
Our favourite non-touristy beach in this area is Playa Diego Hernandez. The path to reach the beach takes about 20 minutes and is challenging and steep, so we recommend wearing good shoes and using a baby carrier. Check the tide before visiting. Low tide (generally in the morning) means more beach, which is ideal for little ones.
Montaña Pelada: Our Favorite Family Beach for Non-Windy Days
Just 5 minutes from El Medano, Montaña Pelada is a stunning and secluded beach. There’s limited parking, but especially if you visit in the morning, you’ll probably be the only one on the beach.
A small trail leads down to the beach, immersed in sand and black stones, taking about 5 minutes to walk. Use a baby carrier or walk hand-in-hand given the rocky trail.
The beach is situated on a former volcano, offering a stunning contrast between white sand and black lava stones, with sandy rocks on the other side. This beach offers many attractions for young explorers, from running down the small dunes to searching for crabs among the rocks. The clear and shallow water is ideal for kids, perfect for playing and learning to surf.
In summary, for our family-friendly beach style, this is the top choice in Tenerife. However, don’t expect sun umbrellas or other tourist attractions; simply enjoy the fun and natural beauty.
Nearby, in the Medano area, you’ll find Playa La Tejita. It has a long sandy beach, perfect for kids to play on. While it’s often more crowded and less wild than Montaña Pelada, it still offers a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the tourist beaches of Los Cristianos.
Other family-friendly beaches in the south protected from the wind
If you’re looking for a more serviced beach with sun umbrellas and located right in the city center, Playa el Camison is a great option. It offers flat and shallow water, ideal for kids to swim safely, but it can be crowded. This beach is perfect if you want to surf at the nearby Playa Las Americas while also having a protected beach for your kids. A promenade takes you through the entire Playa de las Americas, which reminds me of California with its surfers and chaotic atmosphere.
Right next to Playa el Camison is Playa Las Vistas, in Los Cristianos. This beach is also protected from the wind, sandy, spacious, and located right in the city center. Finding parking for both of these beaches might take some time, but with a bit of patience and walking, you’ll find a spot. The good thing about all the Canary Islands is that parking is always free, even in the most glamorous locations like Costa Adeje and its Playa del Duque.
Tenerife appeared to us as a very contrasting island, with both ultra-touristy places and ultra-wild and local ones. Depending on the type of holiday you’re looking for, the options are plentiful, and based on our experience, Tenerife stands out as the top choice for a family wingfoiling holiday!
